Innovation in the Meetings Industry: Firmdale and Sundial

by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua Scale The sheer scale of London as a destination makes it the perfect crucible for trying out new ideas and concepts in hospitality and MICE. Consequently it’s a rich source of inspiration for those of us, like Patrick and me, whose livelihood is derived from dispensing advice to destinations,… Read more »

Should Meetings be categorised with Travel and Tourism?

by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua James Lancaster of CAT Publications’ Association Meetings International (AMI) hates “annoying inconsistency” and “an excess of meaningless verbiage” (see his excellent recent article here). I’m with him on both counts although now I’m second guessing whether hating an “excess” of meaningless verbiage means that we both actually tolerate small amounts… Read more »

London Calling: M&IT Awards, CONFEX and the Irish back at ExCel

by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President MCI and Vice President, Ovation Global DMC Ole, Ole, Ole London’s Convention and Exhibition Centre, ExCeL, is etched in the hearts of most Irish people. For a period last summer it often appeared that the entire facility had been colonised by the Irish such were the ubiquity of tri-colours and… Read more »